Bathing-shoe



(No Model.)

B. W. HOWARD.

BATHING SHOE. No. 393,563. Patented Nov. 27, 1888.

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UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BLANGHE WILLIS HOWARD, OF BANGOR, MAIN E.

BATHlNG-SHOE.

EiPBCIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 393,563, dated November 27, 1888.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BLANerIE WILLIs How- ARD, of Bangor, county of Penobscot, State of Maine, have invented ap Improvement in BathingShoes, of which the following descrip tion, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

The object of my invention is to produce a bathing-shoe that will be more comfortable and durable than the bathing-shoes now in use, and will also be of more attractive appearance.

Bathing-shoes have commonly been made with soles of hemp or partly ofcloth,as leather is unsuitable for this purpose, owing to the effect of the water upon it. The materials heretofore used have either been thick and clumsy or have been so soft and flexible as to afford insufficient protection to the foot. I

have discovered that a durable and efficient sole can be made of thin sheets of celluloid molded to the proper shape, preferably using two sheets for each sole, between which sheets the edges of the upper are drawn, the said inner and outer sole being fastened together through the edges of the upper by rivets or other suitablev fastenings. The shoe is also preferably provided with a lining-sole, which may be made from a thin sheet of cork, and the entire sole is provided with several perforations to permit the water to flow freely out, although the material itselfis impervious, and therefore does not become water-soaked and heavy, as is the case with the materials heretofore commonly used in bathingshoes.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bathingshoe embodying this invention; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of the sole portion thereof; and Fig. 3 a transverse section on line 00 m, Fig. 2.

The upper a of the shoe may be of any suitable or usual shape and material, stout linen cloth being well adapted for this purpose.

The edges of the said upper are drawn in between the outsole b and an insole, b, which soles are fastened together, and to the edges of the upper by rivets c, or other suitable fasten ings. The said in and out soles b b are C0111- posed of a material impervious to water and of considerable rigidity, although sufficiently flexible for comfort, celluloid being the best known material to me for this purpose.

The shoe is preferably provided with a lining sole, (2, which may be of cork, and the entire sole is provided with a sufficient number of perforations, c, to permit the water to pass freely through it.

A sole of the kind described while being sufficiently elastic or flexible for the comfort of the wearer is not softand yielding, and thus affords a sufficient protection to the foot in walking over pebbles; and, owing to its imperviousness, it does not become soft when'iu the water, and then harden when dry, and it does not become waterlogged or heavy when in use, so as to interfere with swimming.

I claim- 1. The combination of the upper with an outsole and an insole, each composed of a sheet of celluloid molded to shape,the edges of the upper being inserted between the edges of said soles, and the latter being connected to gether by fastenings inserted through the edges and through the edge of the interposed upper, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the upper, of a sole composed of celluloid provided with perforations, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof Ihave signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BLANOHE \VILLTS HOWARD.

Witnesses:

E. P. CRANE, THEO. ABENHEIM. 

